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From: bdahlen@zephyr.cair.du.edu (Robert L. Dahlen - U. of Denver USA=)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Portfolio vs Wizard OZ-8000
Message-ID: <1991Apr2.223009.12938@mercury.cair.du.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 91 22:30:09 GMT
References: <1991Apr2.034036.11439@NCoast.ORG>
Sender: news@mercury.cair.du.edu (netnews)
Organization: University of Denver
Lines: 36

In article <1991Apr2.034036.11439@NCoast.ORG> brian@NCoast.ORG (Brian Keith Gaiser) writes:
>       What I would like to know is how does this product stack up against 
>       the ATARI Portfolio ?   What RAM option cards does the Portfolio have?
>       How good is it as a terminal ?  Does it have good general organizer 
>       features ?   How is it's calendar and spread sheet ?  Is there good 
>       stocks of info cards available such as CITY GUIDES and the BIBLE or 
>       other reference material ?   Is it easy to use ?  Does it fit in one's
>       inner suit coat pocket ?   How long do the batteries last?   What 
>       kind of PC upload/download capabilities does it have, what file formats
>       will it support ?   Is there good OEM commitment to put popular 
>       software and games on it ?   What peripherals can you get and at what 
>       retail cost ?  How easy is the word processor, and can it be used with
>       Word Perfect or Professional Write on a PC host ? 

I looked at the Sharp Wizard and the Casio Boss (top models) and compared
them to the Pf.  I like the Pf better.  It is truely a IBM compatable in 
the sence that you can use normal PC compilers to write programs for it.
No need to purchase programs from Atari, there are hundreds available from
the Atari BBS and even more from Compuserve (GO ATARI), and there is an FTP 
site as well!  The are Option cards available for the Pf but I don't know 
how many or prices, since I've downloaded such teriffic software.  Plus I can
actually write my own in Basic, pascal, C, etc.  As far as a terminal, its as
good as any computer with a 40x8 screen.  Organizer and calender are a toss-up
definately better on other units for some tasks.  Alarm on Pf is too quite, but
it will dial the phone for you if you hold it up to the speaker.  I have heard
that city/wine/etc cards are or will become available but I have not looked
at them.  Very easy to use.  You'll need a suit coat pocket, just a tad too
big.  Batteries last 4-6 weeks, standard AA's.  Up/download quite easy with
optional parallel port.  Good PD games.  WP makes standard ascii files, and
is good enough for the amount of time you might use it.
downloaded such teriffic software
-- 
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Robert L. Dahlen - Director, Information Systems & Technology
University of Denver - Denver, Colorado 80208 (303) 871-4385
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